Spring-cleaning for the time-poor

Spring is a traditional time for giving homes a deep clean but it can be a busy few months, especially if you’re househunting – so carving out a whole day or weekend for it is very possibly the last thing you feel like doing right now. Lisa Davis runs through five simple jobs you can do when you get a spare half-hour here and there instead.

Cobwebs
Now there’s a bit more sunlight, you might notice all the cobwebs and dust in the corners of rooms, on light fittings, on the top of bookcases, down the side of the fridge, on top of skirting boards and in fan grills and air vents. Get out the vacuum cleaner, but ignore the floor; just go around and do all of these. Make sure to use the right attachment, though, and not the bare end of the hose, or you can scratch your finishes.

Bed maintenance
Take a little extra time next time you change the sheets to flip the mattress, change the underlay, and ponder when you last washed the blankets or the pillows. If you’re swapping over to a lighter doona, now’s the perfect time to have the heavier one cleaned.
Bonus points for giving the mattress a quick vacuum.

Mirrors
Everyone likes to clean their mirrors differently. Some people swear by microfibre cloths, others by newspaper; the same goes for glass cleaner versus vinegar versus methylated spirits. Either way, doing all the home’s mirrors all at once is usually much more satisfying than doing them as you clean each room.

Door handles
When did you last disinfect the handles on your doors and cupboards? They’re one of those items that regularly come up on lists of things that can be dirtier than toilet seats, so do a runaround with a damp cloth and some household cleaner, or a mixture of water and vinegar or eucalyptus oil if you’re feeling environmentally friendly.

Call a professional
This won’t take half an hour but if it’s in your budget, go ahead and don’t feel guilty. These companies exist for a reason – these jobs are horrible. So go ahead and have the rugs professionally cleaned. Call someone in to do all the windows. Get in an oven-cleaner. There are even companies who will come and wash out your wheeley bins for you.